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Digg it UP - One Simple Idea to Grow Your Business
There once was an ugly duckling with feathers all stubby and brown. He didn’t realize he would one day be a swan so any face-to-face marketing technique he ever used ultimately resulted in widespread ridicule. This of course led the duck/swan to venture away from his family (who also considered him a bit of an odd duck).Everywhere the duck went he was ridiculed and chased away from other better established (and finely groomed) business fowl.Then one day while staying at the Blind Pigeon’s Inn he discovered the Internet (free with the weekly rate). The Ugly Duckling had a
Now look at the responsibility of each employee and ask the same question. Are they responsible for both short term and long term functions? I’m willing to bet that if they are, the long term functions consistently fall lower on the priority list.
The best case scenario is to have different people responsible for long and short term functions, as much as possible. Consider how to realign responsibilities so that certain employees are working primarily on long term functions and others are responsible for short term functions. You may not need t
An important factor in making your time, efforts and expenses worthwhile at a trade show is proper selection and training of your booth staff. Here are some tips for being well prepared to work your next trade show.Choose a LeaderDuring the preparation and execution of a trade show engagement, there is usually a leader that emerges as heading up the overall show management. However, this is not always clear-cut in all organizations. Before you assign any staffing, determine who is leading the overall effort, and have that person positioned as such throughout the pl
Business owners often tell us that effective marketing strategies are not in place. Why? Because they are too busy selling. New products and services are not being developed. Why? Because they are involved in the delivery of existing products and services. Long-term planning is not addressed. Why? Because they are so busy working on this week’s “To Do” list.
The solution to these scenarios is to distinguish long term functions from short term functions. This doesn’t mean deciding which tasks you will do today and which you will do at some point in the future. It means knowing which functions make the business healthy in the short term, and which functions make the business healthy in the long term. It’s not that one is more important than the other – you have to do both well.
The inevitable reality is that short term functions always crowd out long term functions. For example, let’s say I’m in the technology business and provide both “break and fix” work as well as installation of complicated networking systems. You hire me to develop a networked system for your business, which will take some time, some thought, some development. I’m about to begin this project for you when another customer calls and says, “My computer is down and I can’t work until it’s fixed.” Of course I rush off to handle that customer’s short-term need at the expense of my long-term project with you.
Situations like this happen every day in every business. It’s common for a business owner or manager to handle both marketing and sales for her business. You know you need to sit down and develop a marketing strategy for the next quarter, but cash flow is tight so you also know you’d better get out there and sell something. Short term versus long term again.
The single most helpful action you can take to have the greatest impact on your business is to understand long term and short term functions, then separate them. Let’s take a look at examples of both short term and long term functions:
SHORT TERM (if you do these well, your business will be healthy short term): - Accounting; - Administration (systems, procedures, policies); - Sales; - Operations; - Production; - Personnel (payroll, benefits administration).
LONG TERM FUNCTIONS (if you do these well, your business will be healthy long term): - Marketing (anticipating the market & future customer needs; innovation); - Research and Development; - Finance; - Staff development & training; - Corporate culture, teamwork.
The second step is to begin separating those functions for yourself and your employees, realigning responsibilities. Take a look at all the roles you play in your business. Do you have responsibility for both long-term and short-term functions? For example, are you handling both marketing and sales? Or handling both finance and accounting? Many business owners are spread all over the map.
Now look at the responsibility of each employee and ask the same question. Are they responsible for both short term and long term functions? I’m willing to bet that if they are, the long term functions consistently fall lower on the priority list.
The best case scenario is to have different people responsible for long and short term functions, as much as possible. Consider how to realign responsibilities so that certain employees are working primarily on long term functions and others are responsible for short term functions. You may not need to
Attracting and keeping long-term clients is a prevailing approach for your growing business. Long-term clients who are pleased with consistent on-going good service, are likely to refer others to your business, and are more likely to buy further services from you. The confident professional, small business owner gains by focusing on certain sound tactics for long-term client maintenance. Just like a free online classifieds, your business should always keep, treasure and maintain healthy relationships with its contacts.Focus marketing on your existing clients. Your present cust
The inevitable reality is that short term functions always crowd out long term functions. For example, let’s say I’m in the technology business and provide both “break and fix” work as well as installation of complicated networking systems. You hire me to develop a networked system for your business, which will take some time, some thought, some development. I’m about to begin this project for you when another customer calls and says, “My computer is down and I can’t work until it’s fixed.” Of course I rush off to handle that customer’s short-term need at the expense of my long-term project with you.
Situations like this happen every day in every business. It’s common for a business owner or manager to handle both marketing and sales for her business. You know you need to sit down and develop a marketing strategy for the next quarter, but cash flow is tight so you also know you’d better get out there and sell something. Short term versus long term again.
The single most helpful action you can take to have the greatest impact on your business is to understand long term and short term functions, then separate them. Let’s take a look at examples of both short term and long term functions:
SHORT TERM (if you do these well, your business will be healthy short term): - Accounting; - Administration (systems, procedures, policies); - Sales; - Operations; - Production; - Personnel (payroll, benefits administration).
LONG TERM FUNCTIONS (if you do these well, your business will be healthy long term): - Marketing (anticipating the market & future customer needs; innovation); - Research and Development; - Finance; - Staff development & training; - Corporate culture, teamwork.
The second step is to begin separating those functions for yourself and your employees, realigning responsibilities. Take a look at all the roles you play in your business. Do you have responsibility for both long-term and short-term functions? For example, are you handling both marketing and sales? Or handling both finance and accounting? Many business owners are spread all over the map.
Now look at the responsibility of each employee and ask the same question. Are they responsible for both short term and long term functions? I’m willing to bet that if they are, the long term functions consistently fall lower on the priority list.
The best case scenario is to have different people responsible for long and short term functions, as much as possible. Consider how to realign responsibilities so that certain employees are working primarily on long term functions and others are responsible for short term functions. You may not need t
Years ago I used to focus on the worst members of the audience. The ones who crossed their arms and legs, never smiled, hardly said a word or took a single note throughout the day. I felt the need to ‘win them over’ to prove my ability as a speaker and a trainer.I’ve learned something over the years: Some people do not want to be won over – and that’s OK.Now I focus on the audience members who do respond with smiling, nodding, taking notes, asking questions and laughing along with my stories. This gives me a lot more energy when I work, and also makes those participants f
Situations like this happen every day in every business. It’s common for a business owner or manager to handle both marketing and sales for her business. You know you need to sit down and develop a marketing strategy for the next quarter, but cash flow is tight so you also know you’d better get out there and sell something. Short term versus long term again.
The single most helpful action you can take to have the greatest impact on your business is to understand long term and short term functions, then separate them. Let’s take a look at examples of both short term and long term functions:
SHORT TERM (if you do these well, your business will be healthy short term): - Accounting; - Administration (systems, procedures, policies); - Sales; - Operations; - Production; - Personnel (payroll, benefits administration).
LONG TERM FUNCTIONS (if you do these well, your business will be healthy long term): - Marketing (anticipating the market & future customer needs; innovation); - Research and Development; - Finance; - Staff development & training; - Corporate culture, teamwork.
The second step is to begin separating those functions for yourself and your employees, realigning responsibilities. Take a look at all the roles you play in your business. Do you have responsibility for both long-term and short-term functions? For example, are you handling both marketing and sales? Or handling both finance and accounting? Many business owners are spread all over the map.
Now look at the responsibility of each employee and ask the same question. Are they responsible for both short term and long term functions? I’m willing to bet that if they are, the long term functions consistently fall lower on the priority list.
The best case scenario is to have different people responsible for long and short term functions, as much as possible. Consider how to realign responsibilities so that certain employees are working primarily on long term functions and others are responsible for short term functions. You may not need t
Today with the internet and the information technology, work online from home jobs have been a continuous way to increase your income, there are many work from home income opportunities in the online marketplace.If you are tired of your job and the routine, then you should look for work online from home jobs. Every day more and more people are looking for work from home income opportunities. The people who have work online from home jobs not only save their transportation costs, they also can work better, because they are more relaxed and less tired working at home.look at examples of both short term and long term functions:
SHORT TERM (if you do these well, your business will be healthy short term): - Accounting; - Administration (systems, procedures, policies); - Sales; - Operations; - Production; - Personnel (payroll, benefits administration).
LONG TERM FUNCTIONS (if you do these well, your business will be healthy long term): - Marketing (anticipating the market & future customer needs; innovation); - Research and Development; - Finance; - Staff development & training; - Corporate culture, teamwork.
The second step is to begin separating those functions for yourself and your employees, realigning responsibilities. Take a look at all the roles you play in your business. Do you have responsibility for both long-term and short-term functions? For example, are you handling both marketing and sales? Or handling both finance and accounting? Many business owners are spread all over the map.
Now look at the responsibility of each employee and ask the same question. Are they responsible for both short term and long term functions? I’m willing to bet that if they are, the long term functions consistently fall lower on the priority list.
The best case scenario is to have different people responsible for long and short term functions, as much as possible. Consider how to realign responsibilities so that certain employees are working primarily on long term functions and others are responsible for short term functions. You may not need t
There are many ways to make money online today, and thousands of people are earning a substantial income from the comfort of their own homes. How are they making money? With a successful Internet business, of course!Perhaps you want to earn a part-time income from home or start a full-time Internet business. Maybe you're a mom who wants to stay home while earning a living. Or, maybe you're sick and tired of the "rat race" and want to settle down with your own home business. Whatever the case, you can choose one of the sure-fire methods of making money online below to get sta
Now look at the responsibility of each employee and ask the same question. Are they responsible for both short term and long term functions? I’m willing to bet that if they are, the long term functions consistently fall lower on the priority list.
The best case scenario is to have different people responsible for long and short term functions, as much as possible. Consider how to realign responsibilities so that certain employees are working primarily on long term functions and others are responsible for short term functions. You may not need to hire anyone new, simply realign who is doing what.
In many businesses with a small staff, complete separation is unrealistic. The next best scenario is to be very aware that you are wearing two different hats, and specifically allocate certain days or even hours to making sure your long term functions are given enough time and attention. For example, if you are handling both marketing and sales, you might block out two entire days each week where you do not schedule sales appointments, but you work on marketing instead. Or perhaps it works better for you to divide your days into morning for sales, afternoons for marketing. It takes discipline, and it’s worth it.
Once you have the awareness, you’ll see your business through different eyes. Separating long term and short term functions is the most effective move you can make to help you grow your business.
© 2004 Darcie Harris
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